Surprise kids with fully decorated house or have them help?

[TallulahTwinkletoes]

DD is three and loved the magic of Christmas last year but couldn't have helped do anything. I think she could this year but it won't look great if she does.

Do you surprise your kids or let them put up/help with decorations?

good question!!

maybe do most of it and let her do a little part somewhere or tree in her room?

We do both-let them help put up the small tree in the kitchen complete with garish baubles and coloured lights but then let them wake up to the big tree and twinkly lights in the living room. Was wonderful last year-dd didn't move or talk for about 5 minutes-just stood and stared in amazement

Mine have helped since they could stand... first Sunday in Dec we crank up the Christmas tunes and turn the house into a tacky grotto...
At three they would help decorate the tree and then loose interest so I did the rest. Now they hand me drawing pins and yell "left a bit right a bit" It is a wonderful family tradition here... its not perfect but it is one of the highlights of their year!

We have always let them help, they love it ( I do rearrange some of the tree once they have gone to bed!) we also let them choose one tree decoration each every year.

It's our favourite tradition to do the tree, with a new ornament for each kid and sometimes for me too. We all love unwrapping the decorations and remembering/arguing about who's is who's. We have done it every year with dss who doesn't always come for Xmas day, and have treats, bubbly and Xmas music. Love it ... And I love the overloaded slightly unbalanced look of the tree too!

DS who is nearly three will be waking up to a decorated house. We did it last year and his face was priceless. Once he's older I'd like us to decorate together.

I do it in the evening once they've gone to bed then act all surprised the next morning because the christmas fairies must have come and decorated the house while we were asleep.

I was just pondering this in bed last night!

Our kids are 6 and 4 and although they really want the tree and all the decorations etc. up, they want them up immediately and so it all gets a bit stressful when we're actually doing it.

So I think this year I will get DH to get the stuff out of the attic when they're not around, hide it all in my locked bedroom and then decorate when they're in bed that night. I know they will be delighted to get up to all the lights the following morning!

I always have a few bits for their bedrooms, so will keep that for them to do themselves. When they're a bit older, we'll do the 'main' decorating together.

They are only 1 and 3 though so I'll probably let them help once they are older.

We do all of it whilst the kids are asleep but leave a few baubles off for them to do themselves. They were only 1-3 last christmas though. As they get older we'll leave more for them to do.

In an ideal world we'd all do it together in harmony but I can see it turning into a chore so we do it when they're all in bed
They do have a tree in their room to do all by themselves though.

Let them help!

(or if very small, "help" - you can always change bits after bedtime)

And idc, they will do it all for you. All I did last year was check the tree was secure. DC did all the rest, and it was lovely to watch them.

hmmm, i think i'll do a bit of both then! she has a tree in her room so she can do that and some of it downstairs. I surprised her last year and you've reminded me that there was a very big "WOW" and I'd like to see/hear that again while I still can!

I normally wait til Dec 1st but I think I'll do it this weekend

How exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!